Iwai three shots clear of pack at Canadian women's open

by Al Campbell

TORONTO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Akie Iwai strengthened her bid for her second win in as many weeks on Friday as the Japanese rookie carded a two-under 69 to open up a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Canadian Women's Open.

Through 36 holes at Mississauga Golf and Country Club, a course 26 kilometers west of downtown Toronto, Iwai, winner of last week's Portland Classic, was nine-under 133 at Canada's 51st national golf championship, a 2.6 million U.S. dollars LPGA Tour event.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand shot a one-under 70 in the hot and humid conditions to remain equal second, tied with Australian veteran Lee Min-jee (67) and Ireland's Leona Maguire (70). Canadian Brooke Henderson shot a five-under 66 for the low round of the day and was equal fifth with Swede Linnea Strom (67) and Americans Megan Khang (71) and Jenny Bae (69) at four strokes back.

China's Liu Yan was a shot further back as the Xiamen native carded her second straight round of two-under 69 to sit equal ninth in a group of six players that included World No. 2 Nelly Korda (69).

Aphrodite Deng Tiexin, the 15-year-old Chinese-Canadian, shot a two-over 73 to remain the low amateur at six shots off the pace.

Iwai, who went into the day with a two-stroke lead, stumbled out of the gate with a bogey five at the 416-yard second. She would quickly rebound for a birdie at the next and at the par-five fifth before registering another bogey at the 411-yard eighth hole. The 23-year-old would close with birdies at the 13th and 17th holes.

"Today, also I have many birdie chances, but I just didn't get. I would say I left many short putts, no distance, short. Yeah, that's why tomorrow I need more," said Iwai, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour.

Other Chinese scores included Liu Yu who shot 67 to safely make the one-under cut. Also making the weekend play were Zhang Yahui (69) and Yin Xiaowen (70). Missing the cut were Liu Yiyi (72), Wang Xinying (72) and Zhang Weiwei (71). Liu Ruixin withdrew.

Lee Min-jee, the former World No. 1 who won the Women's PGA Championship in June for her third career major title, carded five birdies followed by a bogey at the 395-yard last in the hunt for her 12th LPGA Tour title.

"I had a really nice front nine. Had four-under to start the first nine. I birdied the same two holes to start, two and three yesterday as well, so I had good vibes. So started well. I felt like I hit solid shots on the back nine as well. Just didn't have too many that were close range. So, you know, didn't hole too many mid-range putts for birdie," said the Perth native, the older sister of PGA Tour regular Lee Min-woo.

"Overall, it's one of those courses where you, I don't know, there is a score out there, but it's like you hit it a little bit off target or the rough is quite thick. I think you just have to stay patient and take what it gives you."

Henderson gave the home fans something to cheer about as the Canadian No. 1 charged up the leaderboard on the strength of six birdies, four of them coming over the last eight holes, and a lone bogey in pursuit of her second national title, the first coming in 2018.

"I definitely wanted to get off to a hot start, get away from the cut line as fast as I could. Two-under through nine holes I was really happy with. To finish the day five-under, it was a really good day. I'm just really excited to be teeing it up the next two days and look forward to the amazing crowds out here," said Henderson, a native of Smiths Falls, Ontario, near the New York state border.

"After shooting five-under you feel like, 'Oh yeah, close is here'. But I'm right there. Just got to keep going, put two more solid rounds together." ■